Mr. Hands is the thirtieth album by Herbie Hancock. It features Jaco Pastorius on the track "4 A.M.," plus an all-synthesizer track, "Textures," performed entirely by Hancock. "Shiftless Shuffle" (originally recorded for the Japan-only album Directstep) features all five members of The Headhunters quintet that first appeared on the 1973 album Head Hunters, including the quintet's original drummer Harvey Mason. This album was the first on which Hancock used a computer, this time an Apple II. He would continue his relationship with Apple Computer for many years.

An overlooked album when it was released, this would be the last outing of "straight" electric jazz from Hancock for some time. Later albums focused more on his R&B influences.